Makeup is an art form, with your face being the canvas and the brushes your tools! Just like in the art world, your makeup brushes also have different functions. Do you ever wonder why you can’t achieve that sleek line of highlighter across your cheekbones just like the MUAs or how your favourite beauty blogger can oh-so-effortlessly perfect the watercolour eye makeup look and you’re left struggling in the blending department? Well, it all comes down to your makeup brush. Let’s be real, when it comes to creating a makeup masterpiece, one brush doesn’t do it all. And yes, sometimes your fingers work just as well, but since we’re living in a corona-era, it’s best to keep your digits away from your face and makeup.
Don’t be disappointed if you don’t know the purpose of every makeup brush out there. They come in different shapes, sizes, density, length, textures — this is enough to leave even the best scratching their heads in confusion. Here’s where we come to the rescue!
Picking The Right Makeup Brush
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Before you start adding anything to your cart, read our guide to find out the purpose of every major makeup brush.
Makeup Brush #1: The Kabuki Brush
Let’s start off with this lonesome fella. You won’t find this short brush with densely filled bristles that’s either firm, flat or dome-shaped in all makeup brush sets online but every beauty enthusiast has one in her makeup bag. This brush is used to apply liquid or cream-based foundations. Aside from applying foundation, the dense bristle can also pick up the superfine powders and distribute it evenly across your face without making it look cakey.
When To Use It: To apply powder or liquid foundation, blushes or setting powder.
How To Use It: First, gently dip the brush in your powdered product and dust off the excess by tapping the neck of the brush on your hand. Next, lightly sweep the product across your face. If you’re using this brush to apply liquid foundation, you might need to add a bit of pressure during the application process in order to really work the product on the skin to get the coverage you want.
Makeup Brush #2: The Foundation Brush
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Just like the thick brush you use to cover large portions of a canvas while painting, the foundation brush does the same for your face. These brushes are usually dense and can be flat, rounded, or even dome-shaped. They give you the best amount of coverage while applying liquid or cream foundations.
When To Use It: To apply liquid or cream foundation.
How To Use It: While they come in different shapes, the application process remains the same. To get an even, natural, flawless base, start from your T-zone and move towards your cheeks. Keep blending the foundation outwards in even strokes for your entire face to avoid any harsh lines.
Makeup Brush #3: The Concealer Brush
Ah, the concealer brush—the brush designed to cover up minor problems on your face. These makeup brushes typically have small heads with densely packed bristles and are used to hide specific skin issues on the face like dark circles, acne and other unwanted spots.
When To Use It: Concealers, colour correctors
How To Use It: Dip the brush directly in the product and apply in on the problem areas. Once you achieve the desired coverage, blend out the edges so that it doesn’t end up looking patchy or stand out from the rest of your makeup.
Makeup Brush #4: The Lip Brush
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This thin wand with soft bristles and a tapered point at the end is useful while applying lipstick and lipgloss. Since most people use lipstick directly from the tube, this brush is mostly forgotten amongst the common crowd. But many professionals use this makeup brush to get a crisp, clean finish, especially while dealing with bold or dark lip colours.
When To Use It: To line and fill your lips.
How To Use It: Just like applying a lip liner, first start at the cupid’s bow and outline the natural lip line. Once you’re done, you can go ahead and use the brush to fill in the rest of your lip.
Makeup Brush #5: The Powder Brush
We all know that setting powder is key to help your makeup last longer, eliminate oily T-zones and set your makeup in place. But what do you use for the application process? Well, here’s where your powder brush comes to the rescue. This brush varies in size, but the most commonly used powder brushes have long, dense, fluffy bristles.
When To Use It: To apply loose powder.
How To Use It: This is probably the easiest brush to use. Simply dip the brush in the powder, tap off the excess and sweep it across your entire face starting with your T-zone to set your makeup.
Makeup Brush #6: The Fan Brush
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Can’t seem to get a precise line of highlight across your cheekbones? Well, the fan brush is the answer you’re looking for! Just like the name suggests, this brush consists of fanned-out bristles to evenly distribute the highlighter on the high points of your face and help you get that lit-from-within-glow.
When To Use It: To apply powder highlighter and clean away fallout.
How To Use It: Unlike your other brushes, dip the sides of the bristles and apply the colour to your cheekbones and brow bones.
Makeup Brush #7: The Eyeshadow Blending Brush
Applying eyeshadow on your crease or on the inner corners of your eyes can get a little tricky if you don’t use the eyeshadow blending brush. With a narrow tip and soft, fluffy bristles, this brush packs on the pigments and helps distribute and diffuse the colour evenly across the eyelids while adding more depth to the eyes.
When To Use It: While using your eyeshadows.
How To Use It: Dip the brush in the product, tap off the excess and sweep it across your eyelids. You can also use this brush to buff away the edges and create a softer look.
Makeup Brush #8: The Bronzer/Blush Brush
These brushes are pretty self-explanatory. This type of makeup brush usually has soft, fluffy bristles with a slight dome-shape to provide a concentrated wash of colour when applied to the face.
When To Use It: To apply powder or cream blushers and bronzers.
How To Use It: When it comes to applying bronzer, apply a bit on your forehead, across your cheekbones and jawline—these are the places where the sun hits and it will help you achieve that fake beach-vacay tan. When it comes to applying blush, start by adding the colour to the apples of your cheeks and blend upwards towards your ear.
Makeup Brush #9: The Face Contour Brush
Made famous by Kim Kardashian, contouring is a much-loved makeup technique that helps you get a perfectly sculpted face. But just like every other product, the brush you use makes a whole lot of difference. A face contour brush usually has firm bristles with an angled tip for precise application.
When To Use It: To apply powder or cream bronzer for contouring purposes.
How To Use It: While using this brush to contour your cheeks, place the tip of the brush downwards and sweep it upward towards your ears. You can also use this brush to contour your nose, jawline and hairline.
Makeup Brush #10: The Eyebrow Brush
Fuller, defined brows are responsible for making the eyebrow brush a must-have in every woman’s bag. Most eyebrow brushes consist of flat, angled bristles on one end and a spoolie on the other. The bristles help you draw on the brow hair while the spoolie helps diffuse the product to give it a more natural look. Both these tools help you achieve those envious fuller brows.
When To Use It: With your brow products.
How to Use It: Use the spoolie to first comb the brows upward and trim the extra hair. Next, dip the bristles in brow powder and use it to fill in the sparse areas on your eyebrows. Use the spoolie to comb through your brows and get soft, natural-looking brows.
Now that you know the purpose of every major makeup brush out there, go on and use them to create a masterpiece on your face.
Featured Image: Pexels
